Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-04-23
ALBANY. n. Y Anril oo


Senate chamber shortly after noon TODAY.
message was received from Gov. Hill IN re-
garo 10 his nominations for railroad com
mlssloners. The Senate refused to receive
II and the clerks declined to read it so Liest
governor Jones read it bimself amid the
most violent protests Of the republican sena-
tors. As a result the republican majority
Will try to have the Lieut.. Governor i'm
peached.
II had been rumored during the morning
session that the Governor would send a mes.
sage rejecting on the republicans for their
repeated reiusals to act on his various noni.
nations to the railroad commission. The
routine business was nearly completed short
ly after o'clock when motion TO adjourn
till Monday night was made.
The democrats claim that this was done to
escape from receiving The message
In the midst of the roll call the Governors
private secretary, Col Rice, hurriedly en-.
tered the room with roll of paper tied with
blue ribbon.
The Lieut. Governor announced the sec.
retary's presence and raped tor him to pro-
ceed to the front with the message
The republicans demanded that the roll
call on the motion to adjourn be proceeded
with. Half dozen of them were on their
feet at one time, the Lieut. Governor rapping
necessarily for order. The sergeant-at- arms
proceeded with the private secretary to the
centre of the area and their their progress
was stayed ten minutes or more while the
widest confusion prevailed all round the
circle.
The republicans demanded the roll call en-
the adjournment, the Democrats yelling at
the top OF their voices to the chair to proceed
with the reception of the message. Points
of order were made by the Republicans but
not recognized.
Lieutenant Gov. Jones, for twice asking
the republican clerk to read the message ana
being refused, sent down his personal clerk
for the message.
The Republicans denounced this proceed
ing and shouted out THAT message is to the
Senate and not to the Lieutenant Governor.
and you are laying Yourself liable to extreme
discipline in taking it."
"Will you read it?" asked Lieut.. Gov.
Jones If the clerk.
The clerk turned away.
"Why don't you read it yourself?" shouted
a democrat. Don't fool with 'em any
longer"
The republicans again warned Jones that
he had no right to touch the message.
Then the Lieutenant Governor read the
message amid an uproar that prevented
word being heard. The members of the AS
sembly pressed their way into the chamber to
hear what the row was about, and matters
looked so threatening that several ladies,
fearing knock down was imminent, hurried
from the room.
After the message had been read, or the
form of reading was completed by Jones,
there was momentary lull, after which, on
demand of Senator Raines, the roll call on
adjournment was proceeded with. AS one
name after another was called senators of
both parties spoke with reference to the ex-
traordinsry scene that had just occurred.
The republicans took the ground that the
Lieutenant Governor had been guilty of usur-
patton, unparliamentary conduct and illegal
act. The opinion was expressed with vari-
Gus degrees OF emphasis that the only re-
course left to the majority of the Senate was
to have him placed on trial by impeachment
proceedings.
Before announcing the result on the mo-
tion to adjourn, Lieut.. Gov. Jones started to
make an explanation. Pitts, president pro
tenn, objected. The lieutenant governor be-
gan twice to speak but the republican senat-
ors began leaving the room.
Jones begged the courtesy of the Senate to
the hearing in explanation but no attention
was paid to the request. He stated that if no
explanation would be accepted, he would
leave the matter in that shape. The Senate
he then declared adjourned until Monday
evening. After the adjournment the sense
of the republican senators was almost
unanimous in favor of asking the Assembly
to institute impeachment proceedings against
Jones. republican senatorial conference
will be held Monday night to decide upon the
course to be pursued.
The Governors message opens with re-
cital of the Governors powers in the matter
of nominations and with the opinion that the
Senate's duty is either to confirm or reject
nominations, and not to chang up" indefinite
ly. He then recites various nominations for
railroad commissioners, inaction of Senate,
and the vain effort to induce that body to go
into executive session for the consideration of
the nominations. He notes and denies the
accusation that the nominations have not
been made in good faith and intimates sim
liar lack of good faith on the Senste's part.
He then says | seek by this communica-
ton to inform you that respectfully decline
to be placed in any false position on one
hand or to do the Senate any injustice or dis
courtesy on the other. If the Senate actu-
allv desires further time to consider the nom
nations of Armstrong and Burkee, or is now
desirous of confirming them, | am anxious to
oblige your honorable body. If by a resolu-
ton or in some other proper formal manner,
the Senate shall manifest It's desire or will
linyness to consider these nominations or
confirm them, | announce to the Senate that
| will cheerfully withdraw the present nomi-
nations and retransmt the nominations of
Armstrong and Burkee for its favorable
action await the pleasure of the Senate IN
this matter.
RaiIroad Smash. Il IN.